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Mary Katrantzou: the woman who makes £10,000 sweatshirts

Harriet Walker

May 20 2015, 1:01am, The Times

Florals, paisleys and perhaps the odd bird or two. An idyllic pastoral scene, at a push. These are the sorts of things you’d expect to find printed on women’s clothing. But peer at one of Mary Katrantzou’s dresses and you’re more likely to spot spoons, typewriters and postage stamps. Sometimes they’re literally hanging off: her autumn 2012 collection featured thousands of HB pencils carefully stitched on to a skirt by the Parisian couture embroiderers, Lesage.

If that sounds like too much high-fashion whimsy, then consider that Katrantzou’s clothes are some of the consistently bestselling in their bracket at stores such as Selfridges and Harrods as well as online at Net-a-Porter and Matchesfashion. Not only that, they’ve been worn by the likes of Taylor Swift, Sarah…